March 9, 2018
Nigeria has formally invited African Tourism Ministers to the UN World
Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/Commission for Africa (CAF) meeting
scheduled to hold in Abuja 4-6 June 2018.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
personally extended the invitation to the Ministers at a meeting they
held on the sidelines of the ongoing International Travel Trade Fair
(ITB) in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday.
”I have tried to contact, individually, every Minister. I have sent
an email to every Minister reminding them of the meeting and assuring
them that we will leave no stone unturned to host a very successful
meeting
”The truth is that no matter the level of preparation that is made,
if you are not there, it is not a success. So I really wish to appeal
to all of us to please attend the CAF meeting in June,” the Minister
said, shortly after handing over the invitation letters to his African
colleagues.
He said the participants at the meeting are guaranteed to experience
the best of Nigeria, especially in the area of the Creative Industry,
where Nigeria’s competitive advantage is widely acknowledged.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Mohammed has urged the global tourism body, UNWTO,
to involve African Heads of State in its plan to rebrand the continent
and make it more attractive to global tourists.
Contributing to the debate on the UNWTO’s rebranding process for
Africa in Berlin, he said Ministers other than those of tourism should
also be involved.
”The UNWTO could make Presidents and Heads of State from across
Africa honorary Champions of Tourism as a way to get them involved.
There could also be a forum where the UNWTO will invite other
ministers, including those of Finance, Budget and Planning, Health,
Interior, Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure and Agriculture, to come and
hear first hand how tourism impacts their various portfolio.
”Tourism is the barometer through which the world will feel the
temperature of any country. There is no area of governance that is
left untouched by tourism,” the Minister said
